Portable device for adaptive data communication control and method of operating the same

ABSTRACT

A portable device and a method of operating a portable device for performing adaptive data communication control are provided. The method includes determining the on or off state of a display unit, extracting data communication setting information including a fast dormancy policy according to the on or off state of the display unit, and controlling a data communication setting with a specific service provider network based on the extracted data communication setting information, and a portable device supporting the method.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation application of prior application Ser.No. 16/138,391, filed on Sep. 21, 2018, which has issued as U.S. Pat.No. 10,904,836 on Jan. 26, 2021, which is a continuation application ofprior application Ser. No. 14/167,241, filed on Jan. 29, 2014, which hasissued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,085,215 on Sep. 25, 2018, which is acontinuation application of a prior application Ser. No. 13/267,209,filed on Oct. 6, 2011, which has issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,670,806 onMar. 11, 2014 and was based on and claimed priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean patent application number 10-2010-0101065, filed onOct. 15, 2010, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, thedisclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable device. More particularly,the present invention relates to a portable device for performingadaptive data communication control and a method of operating a portabledevice.

2. Description of the Related Art

Portable devices that provide a variety of functions are becomingpopular. Typical examples of such a portable device include a mobilecommunication portable device and a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).The mobile communication portable device has a module for supporting amobile communication function mounted thereon and supports thetransmission and reception of voice and data to and from other mobilecommunication portable devices using a base station. Furthermore, thePDA is equipped with a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a memory, anOperating System (OS), a variety of programs based on the OS, andvarious elements. The PDA supports functions, such as informationgathering, storage, writing, and searching, on the basis of theelements. As described above, the conventional portable devices supportthe mobile communication function or support specific user functions onthe basis of various programs stored in storage units.

The conventional portable device complies with a data communicationsetting supported by a relevant network when it performs a communicationfunction using network resources. The data communication settingincludes a setting in which a portable device accesses a network andresources are allocated to the portable device and a setting in whichallocated resources are released. However, the data communicationsetting is problematic in that it is fixed after the booting of theportable device is finished. Accordingly, there is a problem in thatunnecessary current consumption according to the fixed Radio ResourceControl (RRC) release method occurs because communication is performedin accordance with only the specific data communication settingirrespective of a change in the environment in which the portable deviceis operating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention are to address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the presentinvention is to provide a portable device for performing adaptive datacommunication control and a method of operating a portable device,wherein a fast dormancy policy can be differentially applied accordingto the state of a display unit of the portable device.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a portable devicefor performing adaptive data communication control and a method ofoperating a portable device, which are capable of optimizing powerconsumption by performing more appropriate network Radio ResourceControl (RRC) release on the basis of a data communication settingaccording to a portable device condition.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a portable devicefor performing adaptive data communication control is provided. Theportable device includes a display unit for switching on or offaccording to whether power is supplied, a storage unit for storing adata communication setting information including a fast dormancy policyfor the switching of the display unit, and a controller for controllingthe data communication setting with a specific service provider networkaccording to the switching of the display unit based on the datacommunication setting information.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method ofoperating a portable device for performing adaptive data communicationcontrol is provided. The method includes determining the on or off stateof a display unit, extracting data communication setting informationincluding a fast dormancy policy according to the on or off state of thedisplay unit, and controlling a data communication setting with aspecific service provider network based on the extracted datacommunication setting information.

In accordance with a portable device for performing adaptive datacommunication control and a method of operating the same according tothe exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the presentinvention can support a determination of a fast dormancy policyaccording to the conditions of a portable device.

Furthermore, exemplary embodiments of the present invention supportoptimum power consumption through RRC release according to an adaptivepolicy determination.

Furthermore, exemplary embodiments of the present invention can optimizea user function operation in a portable device according to adaptive RRCrelease.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainexemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a portable devicefor performing adaptive data communication control according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a controller according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a portabledevice for performing adaptive data communication control according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbersare used to depict the same or similar elements, features, andstructures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplaryembodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the embodiments described hereincan be made without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions andconstructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of theinvention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention is provided for illustration purpose only and not forthe purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claimsand their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes referenceto one or more of such surfaces.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a portable devicefor performing adaptive data communication control according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the portable device includes a radio frequency unit110, an input unit 120, an audio processing unit 130, a display unit140, a storage unit 150, and a controller 160. The portable device mayfurther include a subscriber module (e.g., a Subscriber Identity Module(SIM)) for supporting an individual portable device operation.

The portable device performs a data communication setting related tofast dormancy differently according to the turn-on state or the turn-offstate of the display unit 140, so that power can be efficiently used onthe basis of the data communication setting according to a situation inwhich the portable device is used in real time. Each of the elements ofthe portable device is described in more detail below.

The radio frequency unit 110 forms a communication channel for a voicecall, sends images or pictures, and forms a communication channel fordata transmission under the control of the controller 160. That is, theradio frequency unit 110 forms a voice call channel, a datacommunication channel, and a video telephony channel with a serviceprovider network. To this end, the radio frequency unit 110 may includea radio frequency transmitter for performing up-conversion andamplification for the frequency of a transmitted signal, a radiofrequency receiver for performing low-noise amplification anddown-conversion for the frequency of a received signal, and so on. Here,the data communication channel may include a communication channel forvideo telephony, a communication channel for an instant message service,a communication channel for a chatting service, a communication channelfor data transmission and downloading, etc. More particularly, the radiofrequency unit 110 can establish a communication connection with aspecific service provider network and perform a Radio Resource Control(RRC) release on the basis of a data communication setting which ischanged under the control of the controller 160 according to thecondition of the display unit 140. For example, when the display unit140 is in the turn-on state, the radio frequency unit 110 may beoperated on the basis of a first data communication setting in which RRCrelease is performed based on a first timer. When the display unit 140is in the turn-off state, the radio frequency unit 110 may be operatedon the basis of a second data communication setting in which RRC releaseis performed based on a second timer.

The input unit 120 includes a plurality of input keys and function keysfor receiving number or character information and for setting variousfunctions. The function keys may include direction keys, side keys, hotkeys, etc. which are set to perform specific functions. Furthermore, theinput unit 120 generates key signals which are received in regard touser setting and control of the functions of the portable device andsends the key signals to the controller 160. More particularly, theinput unit 120 can generate an input signal for operating a specificuser function, an input signal for supplying power to the display unit140, etc. and transfers the generated input signals to the controller160. In order to generate the input signal for supplying power to thedisplay unit 140, a user may press a specific button included in theinput unit 120 or may press a button corresponding to a function foractivating a specific user function.

The audio processing unit 130 includes a speaker (SPK) for playing audiosignals generated when specific content is played and audio signalstransmitted and received after a communication channel is formed and amicrophone (MIC) for gathering a user's voice or other audio signals.More particularly, the audio processing unit 130 can generate a guidancevoice according to the turn-on or turn-off state of the display unit 140and a guidance voice pertinent to a data communication setting which ischanged according to the state of the display unit 140. The output ofthe guidance voice may be provided as an option function and may beomitted according to a designer's intention or deactivated according toa user setting.

The display unit 140 displays information input by a user andinformation provided to a user in addition to various menus provided bythe portable device. That is, the display unit 140 can provide a varietyof screens (e.g., a standby screen, a menu screen, a message writingscreen, a call screen, and the like) according to the use of theportable device. The display unit 140 may be formed of a flat displaydevice, such as a liquid crystal display and Organic Light EmittedDiodes (OLEDs), or a display device to which thin film transistordevices have been applied. Furthermore, if the display unit 140,together with a touch panel, is fabricated in the form of a touchscreen, the display unit 140 can perform a function as an input unit.More particularly, the display unit 140 can output an access screen fordisplaying access to a specific service provider network when acommunication function is operated, an access screen for displayingaccess to a specific server associated with a specific service providernetwork, a function screen for performing data communication with otherportable devices on the basis of service provided by a relevant server,and so on. The supply of power to the display unit 140 may be stopped orstarted according to a user setting or under the control of a user. Thatis, when a user generates an input signal in order to perform a specificuser function or activates a specific user function, the display unit140 may be supplied with power in order to support the input signal andthe activation of the user function. Accordingly, the display unit 140can maintain the turn-on state. Furthermore, if an additional inputsignal is not generated or a user function for the supply of power isnot activated for a certain period of time, the supply of power to thedisplay unit 140 may be stopped after a lapse of some time according toa user setting. Here, the supply of power to the display unit 140 may berestricted step by step. For example, if an input signal is notgenerated or a user function for the supply of power is not activatedfor a certain period of time, the display unit 140 may be supplied withless power than previously supplied. Furthermore, if a condition for thesupply of power is not satisfied for a certain period of time after lowpower is supplied, the supply of power to the display unit 140 may bestopped. Meanwhile, the display unit 140 may output an icon orindicator, indicating that a fast dormancy policy is being applied, to acertain region. Here, information about the fast dormancy policy mayinclude fast dormancy on or off information and timing information forreleasing RRC when the portable device performs data communication witha service provider network.

The storage unit 150 stores an application program for supporting a callservice and an application program for operating a specific SIM 170accessing a SIM card interface, in addition to application programs foroperating functions according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The storage unit 150 may chiefly include a program region anda data region.

The program region stores an Operating System (OS) for booting theportable device and application programs necessary for other optionfunctions (e.g., a sound play function, an image or video play function,and the like) of the portable device. Meanwhile, if a specific SIM isapplied to the portable device, the OS can determine whether the SIM hasbeen inserted into the SIM card interface when the portable device isbooted and perform a mobile communication service routine designed tosupport mobile communication service based on the inserted SIM. Moreparticularly, the program region can store a Fast Dormancy (FD)switching program 153 for changing a data communication settingaccording to the state of the display unit 140.

The FD switching program 153 is loaded into the controller 160 during abooting process and configured to support a change of the fast dormancypolicy according to the state of the display unit 140. To this end, theFD switching program 153 may include a routine for determining the stateof the display unit 140 and a selection routine for selecting a specificdata communication setting (i.e., the fast dormancy policy) according tothe state of the display unit 140. The selection routine may include asub-routine for determining an FD table 151 stored in the storage unit150 and selecting a first fast dormancy policy corresponding to a firstdata communication setting, from among pieces of data communicationsetting, when the display unit 140 is in the turn-on state as a resultof the determination and a sub-routine for determining the FD table 151stored in the storage unit 150 and selecting a second fast dormancypolicy corresponding to a second data communication setting, from amongthe pieces of data communication setting, when the display unit 140 isin the turn-off state as a result of the determination.

The data region is a region in which data generated when the portabledevice is used is stored. The data region can store pieces ofinformation, corresponding to data recorded by a user when a call isperformed, user data (e.g., the above-described video) related to avariety of option functions provided by the portable device, phonebookdata, audio data, relevant content, user data, and the like. Moreparticularly, the data region may store the FD table 151. The FD table151 includes information about a fast dormancy policy according to eachstate of the display unit 140. In other words, the FD table 151 mayinclude first fast dormancy setting information applied to a datacommunication setting when the display unit 140 is in the turn-on stateand second fast dormancy setting information applied to a datacommunication setting when the display unit 140 is in the turn-offstate. The fast dormancy setting information may include fast dormancyon/off information, parameter information about the time when RRCrelease will be performed when the fast dormancy is provided (e.g.,release in 2 to 5 seconds after a specific signal is transmitted orreceived), and so on.

The controller 160 controls the supply of power to each of the elementsof the portable device so that a reset process is performed. When thereset process is finished, the controller 160 can support a change ofdata communication setting based on the display unit 140 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention for each of the elementsof the portable device. To this end, the controller 160 can obtaininformation about the turn-on state or the turn-off state of the displayunit 140 on the basis of an Interrupt Service Routine (ISR) 168 andcontrol a change of the data communication setting based on the obtainedinformation. The configuration of the controller 160 will be describedin more detail later with reference to FIG. 2.

Meanwhile, the SIM that may be included in the portable device may beimplemented in the form of an Integrated Circuit (IC) card and may bemounted on a variety of portable devices supporting a mobilecommunication service. The SIM includes a region for storing subscriberinformation. Accordingly, the SIM can be inserted into a variety ofportable devices so that it can use user functions provided by theportable device. The portable device is equipped with a slot into whichthe SIM is inserted. When the SIM is inserted into the slot, theportable device supplies power to the SIM. The SIM can perform the resetprocess using the supplied power and transmit and receive various datanecessary to use the portable device by communicating with thecontroller 160. More particularly, the SIM may include informationnecessary to use a data communication function on the basis of theportable device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a controller according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the controller 160 includes a fast dormancy policysupport unit 165, a first timer 161, a second timer 163, an ISR 168, andan FD table update unit 167.

The ISR 168 is an element for generating a specific signal according towhether power is supplied to the display unit 140. That is, the ISR 168may generate different signals when the display unit 140 is in theturn-on state and the turn-off state. The ISR 168 can transfer thesignal, generated according to a change in the state of the display unit140, to the fast dormancy policy support unit 165.

The first timer 161 is an element activated when the display unit 140 isin the turn-on state under the control of the fast dormancy policysupport unit 165. When the first timer 161 is activated by the fastdormancy policy support unit 165, the first timer 161 performs acountdown for the time-out time for a preset time (e.g., 5 seconds).After the 5 seconds elapse, the first timer 161 provides timerexpiration information to the fast dormancy policy support unit 165. Inan exemplary implementation, the first timer 161 may be reset before thetime-out time expires under the control of the fast dormancy policysupport unit 165.

Like the first timer 161, the second timer 163 is an element activatedwhen the display unit 140 is in the turn-off state under the control ofthe fast dormancy policy support unit 165. When the second timer 163 isactivated by the fast dormancy policy support unit 165, the second timer163 performs a countdown for the time-out time for a preset time (e.g.,2 seconds). After the 2 seconds elapse, the second timer 163 providestimer expiration information to the fast dormancy policy support unit165. Meanwhile, like the first timer 161, the second timer 163 may bereset before the time-out time expires under the control of the fastdormancy policy support unit 165. The second timer 163 may be set tohave a relatively shorter time-out time than the first timer 161.

The fast dormancy policy support unit 165 can drive the first timer 161with reference to the FD table 151 stored in the storage unit 150 duringthe time for which the display unit 140 is in the turn-on state. Thatis, the fast dormancy policy support unit 165 drives the first timer 161with reference to fast dormancy setting information corresponding tofirst data communication setting information which has been set to beapplied when the display unit 140 is in the turn-on state. Furthermore,if data transmission or data reception, or both are generated before atime-out expires while the first timer 161 is driven, the fast dormancypolicy support unit 165 may control the first timer 161 so that thefirst timer 161 is reset. Meanwhile, when the timer expirationinformation is received from the first timer 161, the fast dormancypolicy support unit 165 may perform control so that RRC release for aspecific user function operated based on a communication function isperformed.

Furthermore, the fast dormancy policy support unit 165 can drive thesecond timer 163 with reference to fast dormancy setting informationcorresponding to second data communication setting information which hasbeen set to be applied when the display unit 140 is in the turn-offstate during the time for which the display unit 140 is in the turn-offstate from the FD table 151. In this process, as in the operation of thefirst timer 161, when data transmission or data reception, or both aregenerated before the second timer 163 expires, the fast dormancy policysupport unit 165 may perform control so that the second timer 163 isreset. When a countdown is finished without additional data transmissionor reception, the fast dormancy policy support unit 165 may performcontrol so that RRC release is performed.

Meanwhile, if the display unit 140 maintains the turn-on state, it mayindicate a high probability that a user may operate a specific userfunction using the portable device. For this reason, during the time forwhich the display unit 140 maintains the turn-on state, the time forwhich RRC release is performed is set to be long. In other words, anunnecessary RRC release or an RRC release that is not desired by a useris prevented by a timer in which the time-out time is set to berelatively long. If the display unit 140 is in the turn-off state, thetime for which RRC release is performed is set to be relatively short bya timer in which the time-out time is set to be relatively short.Accordingly, the state in which unnecessary resources are used can bereleased, thereby optimizing power consumption for maintainingresources. Although the fast dormancy policy support unit 165 has beenillustrated to select the first timer 161 and the second timer 163, thefirst timer 161 and the second timer 163 may be replaced by setting thetime-out time according to relevant data communication settinginformation on the basis of one of the first timer 161 and the secondtimer 163.

The controller 160 may further include the FD table update unit 167. TheFD table update unit 167 is an element for controlling the update of theFD table 151 which is stored in the data region of the storage unit 150.The data communication setting information stored in the FD table 151may be changed according to a change in the policy of each serviceprovider supporting a mobile communication service or the datacommunication setting of a specific user function. That is, if thepolicy of a service provider is changed, a fast dormancy setting appliedto a relevant service provider network may be removed or a parametervalue for a fast dormancy setting may be changed. Furthermore, the timertime in the turn-on state or the turn-off state of the display unit 140may be changed at the request of a service provider. Accordingly, when anew FD table for updating the existing FD table 151 is received from aspecific portable device or the management server of the portabledevice, the FD table update unit 167 may update the existing FD table151 with the new FD table.

The number of timers operated by the fast dormancy policy support unit165 has been illustrated to be two, but the present invention is notlimited thereto. That is, since the time-out amount of the timer may becontrolled by the fast dormancy policy support unit 165, the time-outtime of the timer may be controlled according to the state of thedisplay unit 140 as described above. For example, if the controller 160has one timer and the display unit 140 is in the turn-on state, thetime-out time of the timer may be controlled so that it is set to afirst time. If the display unit 140 is in the turn-off state, thetime-out time of the timer may be controlled so that it is set to asecond time. Accordingly, the controller 160 can determine the RRCrelease time according to the state of the display unit 140 on the basisof the one timer. Here, the first time may be set to be relativelylonger than the second time. For example, if the first time is set to 5seconds, the second time may be set to 2 seconds.

As described above, the portable device, according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention, differently supports pieces ofdata communication setting according to the state of the display unit140. Accordingly, power consumption necessary to maintain RRC can beoptimized, and a suitable data communication setting can be supportedaccording to the state in which a user uses the portable device.

The elements of the portable device and the role and function of each ofthe elements according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention have been described above. Hereinafter, an exemplary operationmethod, more particularly, a power supply control method, is describedin more detail with reference to the following flowchart on the basis ofthe portable device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a portabledevice for performing adaptive data communication control according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a user may perform an operation for supplying powerto the portable device. In order to supply power, the user may connectthe portable device to a battery or a charger and generate an inputsignal for supplying power. When power is supplied, the portable devicedistributes the power as necessary to operate each of the elements ofthe portable device using the supplied power, resets each of theelements using the generated power, and performs booting. When thebooting process is finished, the portable device may perform controlbased on preset schedule information so that a standby screen is outputto the display unit 140 in step 301.

The controller 160 determines whether an input signal for performing acommunication-based user function is generated in step 303. If it isdetermined that the input signal for performing the communication-baseduser function is not generated, the controller 160 controls to perform aspecific user function in response to a relevant input signal in step305. For example, the controller 160 may control to perform a filesearch function, a file play function, a camera function, and the like,which are stored in the storage unit 150 in response to input signalsgenerated at step 305. Furthermore, the controller 160 controls toperform a call function not requiring RRC release.

However, if it is determined in step 303 that the input signal forperforming the communication-based user function is generated, thecontroller 160 of the portable device may control so that acommunication-based program corresponding to the generated input signalis activated in step 307. Furthermore, the controller 160 may supportthe transmission and reception of data when the communication-basedprogram is activated. When the communication-based program is activated,more particularly, when a data communication-based program is activated,the controller 160 can perform access to a specific server over aservice provider network using the radio frequency unit 110. In thisprocess, an RRC setting is maintained. The specific server may be aserver providing a web service, a server providing an instant messageservice, and the like.

When a data communication function is activated, the controller 160 ofthe portable device may determine the state of the display unit 140 instep 309. That is, the controller 160 may determine whether the state ofthe portable device is in the turn-on state or the turn-off state. Thedisplay unit 140, at a point of time when the portable device activatesthe data communication function, will maintain the turn-on state.Although the data communication function is activated, the state of thedisplay unit 140 may shift to the turn-off state according to a point oftime when a user generates an input signal. That is, the display unit140 may shift to the turn-off state after a lapse of a certain time inthe state in which the data communication function is activated.Accordingly, the controller 160 of the portable device may control toproceed to step 311 or 313 by determining the state of the display unit140 at step 309.

In more detail, if it is determined in step 309 that the state of thedisplay unit 140 is the turn-on state, the controller 160 of theportable device controls the application of a first FD policy in step311. The first FD policy is information for data communication settingwhich is applied when the display unit 140 is in the turn-on state. Thefirst FD policy can be determined with reference to the FD Table 151stored in the storage unit 150. The controller 160 of the portabledevice checks the FD Table 151 stored in the storage unit 150 anddetermines a fast dormancy policy, written in the first FD policy, inthe FD Table 151. Furthermore, the controller 160 may activate the firsttimer 161 according to the fast dormancy policy corresponding to thefirst FD policy. Meanwhile, if the controller 160 has one timer and thetime-out time of the timer is set to be controlled according to a fastdormancy policy, the controller 160 may perform control so that thetime-out time of the timer is controlled according to the first FDpolicy. Furthermore, the controller 160 determines whether the firsttimer 161 has expired. When data transmission or data reception, or bothare generated before the first timer 161 expires, the controller 160performs control so that the first timer 161 is reset. When the firsttimer 161 expires, the controller 160 may perform control so that RRCrelease for the communication-based user function being activated isperformed.

Meanwhile, if, as a result of the determination at step 309, the displayunit 140 is in the turn-off state, the controller 160 controls theapplication of a second FD policy in step 313. The second FD policy isinformation of a data communication setting which is applied when thedisplay unit 140 is in the turn-off state. The controller 160 maydetermine a fast dormancy policy corresponding to the second FD policywith reference to the FD Table 151 stored in the storage unit 150 andperform control so that the second timer 163 is activated based on thedetermined fast dormancy policy. If one timer exists and the time-outtime of the timer is set to be controlled according to a fast dormancypolicy, the controller 160 may perform control so that the time-out timeof the timer is controlled according to the second FD policy.Furthermore, the controller 160 may determine whether the second timer163 expires. When data transmission or data reception, or both aregenerated before the second timer 163 expires, the controller 160performs control so that the second timer 163 is reset. When the secondtimer 163 is finished, the controller 160 may perform control so thatRRC release for the communication-based user function being activated isperformed. Here, the time-out time of the first timer 161 according tothe first FD policy may be set to be relatively longer than the time-outtime of the second timer 163.

The controller 160 determines whether the program is finished in step315. If it is determined that the program is finished, the controller160 may end the process or return to step 301. On the other hand, if, asa result of the determination at step 315, an additional input signalfor finishing the program is not generated, the controller 160 mayproceed to step 307 and control to repeatedly perform subsequent steps.

In addition, the controller 160 may further perform a process ofupdating the FD Table 151 stored in the storage unit 150. The process ofupdating the FD Table 151 may include a process of updating the FD Table151, stored in the storage unit 150, into a new FD Table, if the new FDTable is supplied through the radio frequency unit 110 or through awired/wireless communication interface supported by another portabledevice. The update of the FD Table 151 can satisfy a change of a varietyof policies provided by service providers, the development of a new datacommunication program, and control of a relevant network environment.

As described above, in a method of operating the portable device forperforming adaptive data communication setting control according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, whether a fast dormancypolicy will be applied and the RRC release time are controlled accordingto the turn-on state or the turn-off state of the display unit 140.Accordingly, power can be reduced more efficiently, and an effectivedata communication setting environment can be supported.

Meanwhile, the portable device may further include elements notdescribed above, such as a near field communication module for nearfield communication, a camera module for photographing still images andmoving images of a subject as described above, an interface for enablingthe portable device to send and receive data according to a wiredcommunication method or a wireless communication method, an Internetcommunication module for performing an Internet function over anInternet network, and a digital broadcasting module for performing afunction of receiving and playing digital broadcasting. The elements maynot be all enumerated because they are modified in various waysaccording to the convergence trend of digital devices, but elementsequivalent to the above-described elements may be further added to theterminal. Furthermore, it is to be noted that the portable device mayomit some of the elements from the configuration or may replace some ofthe elements with other elements. This may be easily understood by aperson having ordinary skill in the art.

Furthermore, the portable device may include all types of devices forsupporting a data communication function on the basis of a base station,including the SIM. For example, the mobile terminal may include allmobile communication terminals which are operated in accordance withcommunication protocols corresponding to various communication systems,all information communication devices and multimedia devices, such as aPortable Multimedia Player (PMP), a digital broadcasting player, aPersonal Digital Assistant (PDA), a music player (e.g., an MP3 player),a handheld game terminal, a smart phone, a notebook computer, and ahandheld Personal Computer (PC), and application devices for theinformation communication devices and multimedia devices. Furthermore,the portable device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention is a portable device having the display unit. It is evidentthat the portable device may be applied to all information communicationdevices and multimedia devices, such as portable devices supportingInternational Mobile Telecommunication 2000 (IMT-2000), Time DivisionMultiple Access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM),Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Universal Mobile TelecommunicationService (UMTS), and Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA)according to their communication support schemes, and applicationthereof.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a communicationmodule; a display; and a processor configured to: determine whether thedisplay is in an on or off state, in response to the display being inthe on state, start a first timer set to a first time value, determinewhether data transmission or reception via the communication moduleoccurs before the first timer reaches the first time value, when thedata transmission or reception via the communication module occursbefore the first timer reaches the first time value, reset the firsttimer, when no data transmission or reception via the communicationmodule occurs before the first timer reaches the first time value,control the communication module to transmit a radio resource control(RRC) release request message, when no data transmission or receptionvia the communication module occurs and the display is switched from theon state to the off state before the first timer reaches the first timevalue, start a second timer set to a second time value, and while thedisplay is in the off state, control the communication module totransmit the RRC release request message based on the second timerreaching the second time value, wherein the second time value is lessthan the first time value.
 2. The electronic device of claim 1, whereinthe processor is further configured to: determine whether datatransmission or reception via the communication module occurs before thesecond timer reaches the second time value, when the data transmissionor reception via the communication module occurs before the second timerreaches the second time value, reset the second timer, when no datatransmission or reception via the communication module occurs before thesecond timer reaches the second time value, control the communicationmodule to transmit the RRC release request message, and when no datatransmission or reception via the communication module occurs and thedisplay is switched from the off state to the on state before the secondtimer reaches the second time value, start the first timer set to thefirst time value.
 3. The electronic device of claim 1, furthercomprising a memory, wherein the processor is further configured to: inresponse to the display being in the on state, obtain first datacommunication setting information including the first timer from thememory, and in response to the display being in the off state, obtainsecond data communication setting information including the first timerfrom the memory.
 4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein theprocessor is further configured to: obtain first data communicationsetting information including the first timer from an external device,and obtain second data communication setting information including thesecond timer from the external device.
 5. The electronic device of claim3, wherein the first data communication setting information includes afirst fast dormancy policy corresponding to the on state of the display,and wherein the second data communication setting information includes asecond fast dormancy policy corresponding to the off state of thedisplay.
 6. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the processor isfurther configured to: when the display is in the on state, control thecommunication module to communicate with a specific service providernetwork based on the first data communication setting information, andwhen the display is in the off state, control the communication moduleto communicate with the specific service provider network based on thesecond data communication setting information.
 7. An electronic devicecomprising: a communication module; a display; and a processorconfigured to: determine whether the display is in an on or off state,in response to the display being in the off state, start a second timerset to a second time value, determine whether data transmission orreception via the communication module occurs before the second timerreaches the second time value, when the data transmission or receptionvia the communication module occurs before the second timer reaches thesecond time value, reset the second timer, when no data transmission orreception via the communication module occurs before the second timerreaches the second time value, control the communication module totransmit a radio resource control (RRC) release request message, when nodata transmission or reception via the communication module occurs andthe display is switched from the off state to the on state before thesecond timer reaches the second time value, start a first timer set to afirst time value, and while the display is in the on state, control thecommunication module to transmit the RRC release request message basedon the first timer reaching the first time value, wherein the secondtime value is less than the first time value.
 8. The electronic deviceof claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to: determinewhether data transmission or reception via the communication moduleoccurs before first timer reaches the first time value, when the datatransmission or reception via the communication module occurs before thefirst timer reaches the first time value, reset the first timer, when nodata transmission or reception via the communication module occursbefore the first timer reaches the first time value, control thecommunication module to transmit the RRC release request message, andwhen no data transmission or reception via the communication moduleoccurs and the display is switched from the on state to the off statebefore the first timer reaches the first time value, start the secondtimer set to the second time value.
 9. The electronic device of claim 7,further comprising a memory, wherein the processor is further configuredto: in response to the display being in the on state, obtain first datacommunication setting information including the first timer from thememory, and in response to the display being in the off state, obtainsecond data communication setting information including the first timerfrom the memory.
 10. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein theprocessor is further configured to: obtain first data communicationsetting information including the first timer from an external device,and obtain second data communication setting information including thesecond timer from the external device.
 11. The electronic device ofclaim 9, wherein the first data communication setting informationincludes a first fast dormancy policy corresponding to the on state ofthe display, and wherein the second data communication settinginformation includes a second fast dormancy policy corresponding to theoff state of the display.
 12. The electronic device of claim 9, whereinthe processor is further configured to: when the display is in the onstate, control the communication module to communicate with a specificservice provider network based on the first data communication settinginformation, and when the display is in the off state, control thecommunication module to communicate with the specific service providernetwork based on the second data communication setting information. 13.A method of operating an electronic device for performing adaptive datacommunication control, the method comprising: determining whether thedisplay is in an on or off state, in response to the display being inthe on state, starting a first timer set to a first time value,determining whether data transmission or reception via a communicationmodule of the electronic device occurs before the first timer reachesthe first time value, when the data transmission or reception via thecommunication module occurs before the first timer reaches the firsttime value, resetting the first timer, when no data transmission orreception via the communication module occurs before the first timerreaches the first time value, controlling the communication module totransmit a radio resource control (RRC) release request message, when nodata transmission or reception via the communication module occurs andthe display is switched from the on state to the off state before thefirst timer reaches the first time value, starting a second timer set toa second time value, and while the display is in the off state,controlling the communication module to transmit the RRC release requestmessage based on the second timer reaching the second time value,wherein the second time value is less than the first time value.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising: determining whether datatransmission or reception via the communication module occurs before thesecond timer reaches the second time value, when the data transmissionor reception via the communication module occurs before the second timerreaches the second time value, resetting the second timer, when no datatransmission or reception via the communication module occurs before thesecond timer reaches the second time value, controlling thecommunication module to transmit the RRC release request message, andwhen no data transmission or reception via the communication moduleoccurs and the display is switched from the off state to the on statebefore the second timer reaches the second time value, starting thefirst timer set to the first time value.
 15. The method of claim 13,further comprising: in response to the display being in the on state,obtaining first data communication setting information including thefirst timer from a memory of the electronic device, and in response tothe display being in the off state, obtaining second data communicationsetting information including the first timer from the memory of theelectronic device.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:obtaining first data communication setting information including thefirst timer from an external device, and obtaining second datacommunication setting information including the second timer from theexternal device.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first datacommunication setting information includes a first fast dormancy policycorresponding to the on state of the display, and wherein the seconddata communication setting information includes a second fast dormancypolicy corresponding to the off state of the display.
 18. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising: when the display is in the on state,controlling the communication module to communicate with a specificservice provider network based on the first data communication settinginformation, and when the display is in the off state, controlling thecommunication module to communicate with the specific service providernetwork based on the second data communication setting information.